Automobile-signal.



R. G. FALGONER.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

APPMGATION FILED SEPT. 14, 1912.

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RBERT G. FALCNER, F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 0F COLUMBIA.

AUTOMOBILE-SIGNAI Miners.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914'.

' Application filed September 14, 1912. Serial No. 720,353.

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ldo it known that I, Bonnin` G. FALCONER, a citizen of the United States, residing at llashington, in the District ot' Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvev ments in Automobileignals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric indicators for automobiles, the object in view be-. o me; to provide a simple and reliable device K another machine traveling in rear of the machine equipged with the indicator will be visually advised when the machine is going to turn to the right or to the lelt, or going to come to a standstill or reverse and back, the device also indicating when the machine equipped therewith is standstill.

lilith the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the'construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as ivill be hereinafter more fully rlescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

The accompanying drawing represents diagrammatically the invention as applied to the controls of an automobile.

Referring tothe drawings, 1 designates the steering post ott an automobile, 2 the 5 steering arm, and 3'the bracket orhousing for the gears which control the movement between the steering post and said steen 'u noted that the contacts 8 and 9 are arranged yflush with the obposite'edges'oi" the respecve levers 2 and 5 tov which they are se cured. Arranged in rontof the 'steering arm 2 is a fixed contact 1G, While inrear 55 thereof is another rzed contact 1l.

- v 12 designates a fixed contactv arranged in `on the gear shift lever.

rear of the gear shift lever 5, and 13 designates another contact point arranged in advance of said lever.

14 designates a Wire leading from the contact 11 through an electric lamp 15 ar ranged to illuminate the Word Left on the indicator, 16 designating the common return Wire which leads back through a battery 17 and through a branch Wire 1S to the contact 8 on the lever 2.

From the contact 10, a wire 19 leads to a lamp 20 adapted to illuminate the word Right on the indicator, andfrom said 'light a Wire 21 leads to the common return Wire 16, thence through the battery 17 and branch Wire 18 to the contact 8.

From the Contact 13, a wire 22 leads to an electric lamp 23 arranged to illuminate the Word Stop on the indicator, a wire leading therefrom to the common return Wire 16, and thence through the battery 1i' and through branch Wire 25 to the contact 9 From the Contact 12, a Wire 26 leads to an electric lamp 27 which illuminates the word Back on the indicator, a Wire 28 leading from said lamp to the common return Wire 1G, thence through the battery 17 and' branch Wire 25 ,to the contact 9 on the gear shift lever.

It will now be observed, after-tracing the connections as hereinabove stated, that when the steering wheels are turned to steer the machine to the right, thefarm 2 ivill meet the cont-act 10 and illuminate the word Right. lhen the lever 2 moves in the opposite direction, the word Left will be illuminated. lVhen the gear shift lever is moved to a neutral position, it will meet the contact 13 and illuminate the Word Stop on-the indicator, and when the lever 5 is shifted rearward to reverse or back the machine, the lever will meet the Contact 12 and the Word Back will be illuminated on the indicator. Thus the driver ofi a machine in rear of the machine equipped with the indicator Will be able to discern at once Whether the machine aheadis going to turn to the right or tothe left, or stop or reverse and back. This will avoid many of the accidents now frequently occurring, andl the apparatus described will require no attention Whatever on the part ot' the operator 'of the machine, as'thev device as a wholer is entirely automatic.` It .will fun ther be seen that two of the words on 'the indicator `may dpjgdisplayed simultaneously.

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and at the saine time turning to the right or For example, when the machine. is backing to the left. If desired, the signaling system may be further extended in accordance with the foregoing description and accompanying drawing.

- What is claimed is:

In a signal apparatus, in combination, two pivots cppositely disposed in alinement, a lever fulcrumed at one end to each of said pivots, an electric contact plate mounted upon each of said levers Hush with the opposite edges thereof, two fixed contacts arranged adjacent the opposite edges of the contact plates carried by said levers whereby the kedges of eachlever may engage with either of said pairs of contacts, a Wire connecting the contact plates of said levers, a battery, a plurality of signals, a wire connecting one contact to one of ave said signal, arranged at thc end of a series of signals, a wire. leading from said last name signal to one side of the battery, shunt ,wires ccrinqcting the remaining signais with said wire leading to said battery, a wire leading from another signal to /the contact opposite to said first named con- ROBERT G. FALCONER.

Witnesses:

W. E. PALMER, BENNETT S. JONES. 

